Because they have run out of innovation ideas and they don't want to pay taxes repatriating some of that "money" in order to reward shareholders. It's cheaper to issue debt to fund a dividend or buyback.

ding ding ding, chicken dinner. I joke with a guy I work with that said he used to fire spitballs at tim cook. Who would've wanted to fill those shoes. Their whole business model was innovation. plastic cases and ofshoring to decrease mfg costs, hardly innovation. any regular suit with a business degree from a juco knows that little ditty.

it is apple conceeding that growth is over....gimmicks are only thing left. signifcant buy-back programs will be announced when there is a meaninful dip in price, then a string of insanely overpriced aquisitions,